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A tinge of jealousy jabs at me at these words. I don’t love that she seems impressed with Callan. I’ve never been jealous of my brother. It takes all I have to not start telling her about all the structures I’ve built, mostly in Third World countries. That would make Callan laugh though. From the twinkle in his eyes, I can see he’s enjoying every second of this.
An older woman steps out on the porch and smiles at us. “Hello, Blaze, glad to have you back. You boys are chattering away when your lady looks like she wants to get freshened up before your day of adventure.”
“Hello, Eileen. That sounds like a great idea,” I tell her. “This is Cori, a good friend of mine.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eileen,” Cori says.
“Why don’t you let Eileen show Cori the cabin, and they can meet us back here. I want to show you something,” Callan tells me.
I turn to Cori. “Do you mind?” She looks relieved at getting a small reprieve.
“I don’t mind at all. I really would like to put my bag down.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you back here.” I want to lean into her and give her a kiss, which is insane. I better pull myself together, and do it fast.
She walks off with Eileen and I don’t turn away, enjoying the view of her from behind as much as from the front. Whatever desires I held for this woman ten years ago don’t compare tohow I feel right now. It’s crazy. Time has only made her more desirable.
“Are you going to stare all day?” Callan asks with a chuckle. I snap out of my head.
“I’m surprised you haven’t run this place into the ground,” I tell him, coming back to myself.
“There’s still time,” he says, not even a little offended. We might be ribbing each other, but I’m glad he’s here. I wasn’t a second ago, but maybe losing our grandfather has been a wakeup call. Maybe we realize our mortality. Maybe it even makes us want to make the most out of our time here on earth. I don’t know, I just know I’m not as itchy to leave as I always was.
We walk down the path as Callan chats about some of the changes he’s made at the resort. A couple is down at the river fishing with their kids, and another couple is taking a horseback riding lesson, while a bunch of teens are off to the side playing a game of volleyball.
“In all honesty, you’ve done well with this place, Callan,” I tell him. We make a large loop as I check out the new cabins, a new horse barn, and tennis courts. He’s been busy. Of course we’ve all talked about plans, but I haven’t paid much attention, and it’s been a couple of years since I was here last.
“We all have a lot of businesses, but this place is special,” Callan says with a shrug. He’s right. This place isn’t about profit for us. I’m confused as to why I brought Cori here.
“Yeah, I know.”
“I don’t want to keep your woman waiting too long,” Callan says, and we make a turn that brings us back toward the lodge. Callan shocks the crap out of me with his next words. “I want to settle down.”
“In one place?” I question, thinking that’s a worse fate than losing a limb.
“Not necessary. We can travel. But it wouldn’t be so bad having someone at my side to do it with.”
“The same woman for the rest of your life?” I question.
“You make it sound as if that’s horrible. With one person, you get to know them, appreciate them, and need them. What’s so wrong with that?”
“What in the hell has happened to you?”
“Are you afraid it’s happening to you?” Callan asks. The seriousness in my brother’s tone scares me more than if he was kidding around.
“No,” I say too forcefully. “I don’t know what in the hell is going on with Cori, but it’s nothing serious.
“You can’t stop it if it hits you, Blaze.”
“I don’t know if I like this new you,” I grumble.
Callan laughs. “Hell, it’s scaring me a little too. If I get too annoying, just push me off a cliff.”
I finally laugh. “You’d open a magical parachute, film the entire thing, and make a million bucks,” I tell him. “Don’t think I’m helping to boost your income.”
“Looks who’s talking. You’ve been all over the world. Didn’t I read an article in a magazine about you saving some kid in the middle of a war?” I shrug, feeling slightly uncomfortable. It isn’t that I’m humble or anything like that, it’s just that I do my job, and then move on to the next adventure. I don’t think about what I did ten minutes ago.
“It’s nothing anyone else wouldn’t do,” I say with a shrug.
